Pastor's Blog

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)

Happy Thanksgiving!  Without a doubt, this will be the most “different” Thanksgiving in my sixty years on this earth.  Same holds true for almost all of us.  For me, the pandemic rendering Lisa and Gina unavailable for family time, first Thanksgiving without my dad being with us, Lisa not being able to be in Guatemala with Soy, Deidra and the girls, the list goes on.  However, we have much for which to be thankful and I am thankful to God for His many blessings!

By my count, we still have five or so members of the Friendship family still actively battling the virus.  Other than Lisa & Gina, I do not list names.  I can tell you that one of our members is having a tough time and needs extra prayer support.  So far we do not have anyone in the hospital with the virus and that is a good thing.

Keep praying for Donnie Felps (home) and for Tina Sprinkle’s dad (hospital).

Live stream of our 8:00AM service this Sunday, 11/29, with in person attendance allowed.  Masks suggested and social distancing strongly encouraged.  Preaching only.  Evening service at 6:00PM with music and preaching.  It too will be live stream with in house attendance allowed.

I mentioned Brianna Rice in my message last Sunday.  The following came to me via email from Elizabeth Westbrook last Saturday, 11/21: “Brianna is 15 years old and first starting coming to Friendship when another teenager in youth invited her. Brianna started off riding the bus. Even though services have been canceled for the next two weeks, Brianna made from scratch 14 pumpkin and pecan pies, 5 large pans of Banana Pudding and a ton of chocolate chip cookies to share with our bus riders as a substitute for our annual Bus Ministry Thanksgiving meal. The reactions for our families while Dylan and I were passing out these desserts and wishing families a Happy Thanksgiving was overwhelmingly positive today. We are so thankful that she put in the time and work to bless about 20 of our most faithful bus families! She truly has a servants heart and she is very talented!”

I spoke too early on Lisa’s improvement.  She was out of energy yesterday afternoon and last night.  Gina seemed to go backwards a step or two as well.  Maybe today will be a better day for them.  I pray so.

Daphne cooked supper for us last night.  Someone left energy water and Gatorade at our front door.  How nice was that!  I spent all day yesterday in my office at the church.  Needed to get some things done and needed a break from playing nurse.

One more thing that is really important.  I mentioned the other day about Daphne’s latest degree.  She now has her doctorate as a Nurse Practitioner and finished this degree with a 4.0 GPA.  Impressive to me.  I am proud of Daphne and this accomplishment in her life.  Yes, I am still better than she is at this nursing thing but she has the piece of paper that gives her bragging rights!

Would you pray for me to get a negative COVID test Monday morning?  Thank you!

I pray that you will have a great Thanksgiving Day with Jesus.